Learning to weld - the real story

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After well over 30 years of buying welders for my crew to use and me never learning to weld I decided it was time for me to learn. I got a Lincoln Pro-MIG 180, a #3 bottle of Argon/CO2 and sat down to teach myself how to do all this. I know there are better ways of learning but I am doing a metalworking site for the average guy and I am confident this is how lots of folks will try to learn. Perhaps if they read my stories they will opt for some kind of training...Anyway, if you are interested, you can see the two installments of my Learning to Weld series in the list at the link belowLearning to Weld stories
Reply:I like your enthusiasm! Not trying to be critical, but trying to learn to weld on your own, is like trying to learn to perform surgery without schooling.Looking back at my 'Introduction to Welding' class I took years ago at a local VoTech school, that class gave me not only the confidence to pursue it as a job, but the basics I needed to UNDERSTAND the principles and it greatly improved my skills in a very short time frame.Once you have the foundation built, you can start putting the house together.  Get one of your experience weldors to come mentor you a little, would go a LONG way!Best of luck,Andrew
Reply:I am by far no pro welder but I learned the same way. I have got better over the years, but still no professional! I have a Hobart 187 and it does a pretty good job for me. I still need a lot of practice stick welding though! MIG is fairly easy for me but stick welding is a different story!
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselWarrior"I like your enthusiasm! Not trying to be critical, but trying to learn to weld on your own, is like trying to learn to perform surgery without schooling"
Reply:Gotta break eggs to make an omelet.Learn, have fun, ask questions, post pics of what works and what doesn't work.Pretty quick, with nothing more than a simple hand book and a few reads of other welder's reports, you will get it going.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:I am quickly learning that first becoming proficient at gas welding  is the best way to build a good foundation for all types of welding.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I just passed the half-century mark and started to teach myself stick welding about a month ago. -Should have done this years ago as it opens the doors to making so many more things.  I read many online "how-to" articles and watched some videos and was welding within 5 minutes after getting a good, used Lincoln AC/DC buzz box for $125.One word of advice I'd like to pass along...  If you weld in your garage/driveway, put up shields.  Yes, it protects the eyes of passers-by but more importantly, it hides what you're doing... -and you won't end-up like me having a dozen neighbors showing up with their broken stuff that needs a zap or two.  So far, I'm 3-0 with a snow-blower blade bracket, steel fireplace poker handle and a garden hoe blade. [and on a serious note... grind-down, cut and inspect your practice pieces to see if you're doing it right before you do a project.  -And leave critical welding to people that know how to weld].Have Fun...PS:  Checkout the Projects and Pictures section.  Some of these guys do so awesome stuff.Last edited by Ray C; 09-27-2010 at 11:45 PM.Reason: fix spelling
Reply:Thanks for all of the comments so far.As I said in the first post, I know that taking a class or something similar would be a better (faster anyway) idea than going it alone but past experience with my woodworking site shows that lots of people are in the same boat as me with very limited time and a tendency to go it alone. Like right now it is 3:45am here and I have already watched the packers/Bears game I recorded last night. Like I said, time is limited for classes!Another point of learning on my own is that with the new metal site I can keep track of the problems I encounter which hopefully will encourage others to at least forgo those and maybe take a class or some formal training to avoid my bad experiences.When I first started with stock cars I sort of climbed in, went fast and saved my life twice a lap. Eventually I was able to incorporate some style into the driving as I hope to do eventually with welding. We'll see!
Reply:Hi Tom,Since your starting a website, how about having a forum section too. With the sad state of affairs over hear you may gain a lot of participants. It seems some in charge here are holding their breath and stomping their feet until the others in the sand box play their game. Best of luck with the welding. Practice, practice and more practice!200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.